Short answer
The "42 mm" in replica Portugieser listings refers to the case size of the IWC Portugieser Automatic, which measures 42.3 mm across the bezel. Replicas sold under that label copy the layout of reference IW5007 and the earlier 5001 generation: small seconds at 6 o'clock, a power reserve indicator at 3 o'clock, and a printed claim of a seven-day reserve. Outside dimensions can be copied within a fraction of a millimeter. The Pellaton winding system, the twin barrels, and the 168-hour reserve of the genuine caliber 52010 cannot.
What 42 mm means in the Portugieser line
IWC builds the Portugieser in several sizes. The Automatic 40 measures 40.4 mm, the Chronograph 41 mm, the Automatic 42 measures 42.3 mm, and the Perpetual Calendar runs to 44 mm. A listing that says only "42 mm" almost always means the Automatic. On the wrist, 42.3 mm with 22 mm lugs and a 14.5 mm case height reads as a large dress watch. It sits well on a 7-inch wrist and looks oversized under a shirt cuff below 6.5 inches.
Specifications to verify
- Case diameter: 42.3 mm, crown excluded
- Case height: 14.5 mm
- Lug width: 22 mm
- Movement: IWC caliber 52010, automatic, Pellaton winding
- Power reserve: 168 hours from two barrels in series
- Crystal: box-shaped sapphire, anti-reflective coating on both faces
- Dial: applied Arabic numerals, feuille hands, small seconds at 6, reserve indicator at 3
- Water resistance: 3 bar on the genuine reference
How to inspect a 42 mm Portugieser replica
- Measure the case across the 4 o'clock to 10 o'clock axis with digital calipers, leaving the crown out of the reading.
- Measure the height from the caseback center to the top of the crystal.
- Check the lug width with the same calipers at the inside edge of the lugs.
- Compare the reference engraving on the caseback against the IWC numbering format for the 5007 series.
- Wind the watch with 30 turns of the crown and set it against a known time source.
- Check the watch again at 24, 48, and 72 hours to see whether the reserve indicator tracks the actual run time.
- Watch the small seconds hand at 6 o'clock for a smooth sweep rather than a visible tick.
- Examine the dial printing with a 10x loupe and look for ragged edges or uneven numeral weight.
- Inspect the hands for the feuille shape, a polished bevel, and a tip that reaches the minute track.
- Hold the crystal under a desk lamp and note the color of the anti-reflective tint.
What a replica cannot reproduce
Replica movements in this size class are usually sourced from generic automatic calibers with a decorative bridge plate added. The reserve indicator on many of them is cosmetic and does not reflect the true state of the mainspring, so the watch can stop well before the dial suggests. Case finishing on the lugs and bezel is often done by machine and lacks the hand-polished bevels on the genuine piece. Casebacks and movement engraving use different fonts and depths than IWC applies at the factory.
Legal position in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. Section 2320, and first offenses carry substantial penalties. Shipments of counterfeit watches are subject to seizure by U.S. Customs and Border Protection under 19 U.S.C. Section 1526. A replica also has no manufacturer service network, no parts support, and no resale market beyond the price paid.